Hallstatt
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| State Party |  Austria |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv |
| Identification | #806 |
| Regionb | Europe and North America |
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Inscription History |
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| Formal Inscription: | 1997 21st Session |
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a Name as officially inscribed on the WH List |
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Hallstatt ( ), Upper Austria is a village in the Salzkammergut, a region in Austria. It is located near the Hallstättersee (a lake). At the 2001 census it had 946 inhabitants. Peter Scheutz (SPÖ) has been mayor of Hallstatt since 1993.
Contrary to popular belief, Hall is most likely not the old Celtic name for salt (which was *saleinom, the h-anlaut from historical s- being a characteristic of the Brythonic languages but not Continental Celtic). Rather, the name is derived from Old High German, and whatever its origin, the saltmines near the village were an important factor. Salt was a valuable resource so the region was historically very wealthy.
The village also gave its name to the early Iron Age Hallstatt culture and is part of the World Heritage Site for Cultural Heritage.
[edit] History
Until the late 19th century, it was only possible to reach Hallstatt by boat or via narrow trails. The land between the lake and mountains was sparse, and the town itself exhausted every free patch of it. Access between houses on the river bank was by boat or over the upper path, a small corridor passing through attics. The first road to Hallstatt was only built in 1890, along the west shore, partially by detonating rock.
However this secluded and inhospitable landscape nevertheless counts as one of the first places of human settlement due to the rich sources of natural salt, which have been mined for thousands of years. Some Hallstatt's oldest archaeological finds, such as a shoe-last celt, date back to around 5000 BC. In 1846 Johann Georg Ramsauer discovered a large prehistoric cemetery close by the current location of Hallstatt. In addition, one of the first blacksmith sites was excavated there. Active trade and thus wealth allowed for the development of a highly-developed culture, which, after findings in the Salzberghochtal, was named Hallstatt culture. This lasted from approximately 800 to 400 BC, and now the town's name is recognised world wide.
No notable events took place during Roman rule or the early Middle Ages. In 1311, Hallstatt became a market town, a sign that it had not lost its economic value. Today, apart from salt production, which since the 20th century is transported from Hallstatt to Ebensee via a brine pipeline, tourism plays a major factor in the town's economic life.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Hallstatt's government
- Hallstatt in various languages
- Information in German and English about Hallstatt
